Control system for oil-electric locomotives



Nov. 12, 1935. w, s, H, HAMILTQN 2,021,005

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR OIL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES Filed Feb. 10, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1 ATTORNEYS Nov. 12, 1935. w. s. H HAMILTON I 2,021,005

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR OIL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES Filed Feb. 10, 1935 Nov. 12, 1935. w. s, H, HAWLTON 2,021,005

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR OIL ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES Filed Feb. 10, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m 2 [j 2 x Z? 30 24 6 if d 4 I I i 1 L A 3 v 1 1g; 3/ J3 {0 k,

J" J2 H 65 WmMosur/c W/nfi :3 7 I 9 Z6 I 0 'L f9 mum;- Z9 057 Z7 CYL/NDfR n a 7'0 FUEL INJECTION J0 PUMPS T0 (RAN/r0155 fi J0 33 T0 mum; v in? l 3/ J? 105/? g T0 Zl/Bfi/(AT/NG 6 0/2 PUMP BY h", ,2) W darn/ 77/3 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR OIL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES 24 Claims.

This invention relates to power systems in which internal combustion engines are utilized as prime movers and electric motors as work performers. More particularly, the present invention relates to vehicles which are propelled by one or more electric motors supplied with power from a generator operated by an internal com bustion engine that is carried by the vehicle. One ofthe most common uses of such vehicles is as locomotives for moving railway freight and passenger cars and the invention will be described in connection therewith.

In locomotives of this sort as usually constructed the internal combustion engine is so connected with the control equipment of the locomotive that the speed of the locomotive is increased by increasing the speed of the internal combustion engine. That is to say, with the controller in the off position the internal combustion engine operates at idling speed. Then, when it is desired to start the locomotive and the controller is moved to its first and succeeding accelerating positions, the speed of the internal combustion engine is gradually increased, and this increases the locomotive speed. Ordinarily the engine will not attain its full normal operating speed until the last position of the controller has been reached. This is disadvantageous, particularly in certain kinds of switching service where rapid acceleration is required, inasmuch as the full power of the internal combustion engine is not immediately available for accelerating the locomotive and its load, and because a part of the power output of the engine is necessarily utilized in overcom ing its own inertia and that of the generator connected to it. This tends to make the locomotive sluggish in starting, which is particularly undesirable in many switching operations.

A further disadvantage of propulsion systems of this type is apparent in locomotive switching operations of the sort where it is necessary to make frequent starts and stops. In such work the locomotive engineer repeatedly moves the controller handle back and forth at short intervals between the oil position and the first or other accelerating positions. Consequently, the internal combustion engine is being continually speeded up and slowed down. The engine commences to slow down to idling speed as soon as the contrailer is thrown to the off position, and, vice versa, when the controller is moved back to the first position, the engine commences to speed up again. Such continual changes in speed, accompanied by high loading of the engine while it is operating at slow speed tend to produce excessive wear on the engine bearings.

It is important that. the internal combustion engine be operated only as much as necessary at full speed without load or with very light 5 load, as this also causes increased bearing wear. Accordingly, one of the objects of my present invention is to provide a propulsion system in which the full rated speed of the engine will be available during the usual operation of the ve- 10 hicle and at the same time to prevent the operation of the engine at full speed when the vehicle stands idle for a long period of time. Another object of the invention is to provide fast acceleration of the vehicle under conditions which 15 will tend to avoid increase in maintenance cost.

It is important also in the operation of such vehicles that the engine be not operated at full speed and under heavy loads while it is cold since the various parts of its mechanism are not in go their normal positions with respect to one another which they assume through expansion after the engine has reached its normal operating temperature. In the practical operation of locomotives of this kind it has been found that the 1000- 5 motive operators cannot be relied upon to use care in this respect. A further object of my invention is therefore to provide a propulsion system in which it is impossible to bring the internal combustion engine up to its full operating speed until 30 after the engine has operated at idling speed for a suflicient length of time for the engine to reach a temperature high enough to prevent trouble due to expansion of parts when it is loaded up.

It is also an objeet of the invention to prevent 35 the operation of the engine at full speed, even though it is warm when started, until a sumcient time has elapsed to allow a proper flow of lubricating oil to the bearings to be established.

The characteristic features of my present invention which I believe to be novel will be definitely set forth in theclaims appended hereto, while the features of construction, the mode of operation and additional objects of the invention will be readily understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown my invention as embodied in a propulsion system for a locomotive.

Referring to these drawings:

Fig.- l is a diagram showing the main and auxiliary circuit connections;

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the circuit connections of the control mechanism;

Fig. 3 represents a diagrammatic view in side 55 elevation of the internal combustion engine, generator and certain details of the control mechanism;

Fig. 4 represents a diagrammatic side eleva-. tion of the engine speed governor;

Fig. 5 represents a diagrammatic sectional view of an electromechanically operated valve used in connection with the speed governor; and

Fig. 6 represents a view in longitudinal section of an electro-thermostatic time delay relay which forms a part of the control mechanism.

Referring first to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings, the internal combustion engine I is preferably of the Diesel type and serves to drive a main electric generator 2 and an auxiliary generator 3. It will be understood that these parts are appropriately mounted within the cab of the locomotive and that power developed by the engine I is transmitted to the axles of the locomotive by means of the main generator 2, the circuit connections shown in Fig. 1 and the propelling motors 4.

The auxiliary generator 3 is provided to charge a storage battery 5 (Fig. 1) and supply power for the auxiliary circuits, when the engine is operating at full speed. The battery is charged and these circuits are operated from the main generator 2 when the engine is operating at idling speed. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the battery 5 is not employed at any time to deliver energy to the propelling motors 4, but is provided for the purpose of operating the auxiliary circuits, including the air compressor, when neither the main generator 2 or the exciter 3 is connected to these auxiliary circuits.

Engine is provided with lubrication by means of an oil pump 5 driven by an electric motor 1. This pump removes oil through pipe 8 from the reservoir in the crank case of the engine and delivers it through pipe 9 to an oil manifold In which distributes the oil to the engine bearings and other parts which require lubrication.

The speed of engine I is automatically regulated or maintained by means of a governor II, the essential details of which are shown in Fig. 4. The governor mechanism is carried upon a shaft l2 which is driven through gearing 13 from the engine shaft 14. This mechanism is of the socalled fiy-ball type and includes a pair of suitable weights l5 which tend to move away from the shaft I2 as the speed of the engine increases and towards the shaft as the engine speed decreases. They act through the linkages shown to coinpress the governor spring 15. As spring I6 is compressed a collar l1 moves downwardly and carries with it one arm l8 of a bell crank which is pivoted at I 9. The other arm 20 of the bell crank is connected through a link 2| to the fuel injection pumps 22 of the engine and thereby increases or decreases the supply of fuel as the governor weights I5 move inwardly or outwardly, thus tending to maintain the speed of the engine at a substantially constant value. It will be understood that the governor mechanism so far described is arranged to regulate or control the operation of the engine at full speed.

In order to change the setting of the governor H so as to cause it to reduce the speed of the engine from full speed to idling speed and maintain the operation of the engine substantially constant at such reduced speed, I provide an auxiliary p ing 23 which is carried upon th upper portion of governor shaft 12. The low end of spring 23 engages collar I! and the upper end is in turn engaged by a collar 24 which, like collar I1, is movable longitudinally on shaft l2. Such movement of collar 24 is effected by means of a forked arm 25 which is pivoted at 25 to the frame of the engine. This arm is actuated by 5 means of a piston 2! which operates within a fluid pressure cylinder 23. Piston 21 is biased downwardly by means of a spring 29 in order to hold the collar 24 in elevated position, thereby permitting the engine to operate at full speed.

Fluid pressure may be admitted to idling cylinder 28 by means of an oil line or duct 30, and when so admitted it causes piston 21 to rise, compressing spring 29 and through lever 25 also compressing the auxiliary governor spring 23.15 This has the effect of reducing the force exerted by the governor spring I 5 upon the governor weights I5, thereby changing the setting of the governor and maintaining the engine at a substantially constant but reduced speed. Spring 23 is chosen to have the proper tension to so change the governor setting as to cause the engine to operate at the desired idling speed, which for a Diesel engine is ordinarily about one half of its rated full speed.

The admission and release of fluid pressure to the idling cylinder 28 to change the engine speed is effected by means of the locomotive control mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2 which will be described in detail presently, and, in order con- 30 veniently to make provision for this, a two-way electromagnetically operated valve shown in Fig.

5 in diagrammatic detail is provided. This valve has three oil lines connected to it, one of which is line 30, leading to the idling cylinder 25. A second line 32 supplies oil under pressure from the oil pressure line 9 leading from oil pump 5. The third oil line 33 leads from the valve 3| to the engine crank case reservoir. The operating coil of valve 3| is indicated at 34 and when this coil is deenergized its armature 35 which actuates valve 3| is held in its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 5, by means of a biasing spring 36. Hence, when coil 34 is deenergized, the idling cylinder is connected to the oil pressure line 9, piston 21 is elevated, and the setting of governor H has therefore been changed to cause the engine to operate at idling speed. On the other hand, when solenoid 34 is energized, armature 35 is drawn downwardly, forcing valve 3| to its i lowermost position, thereby cutting off the oil pressure from line 32 and connecting the idling cylinder 28 through line 30 with discharge line 33 by which the oil within the cylinder is returned to the crank case reservoir, and hence governor I l raises the engine speed to full speed.

For a purpose which will appear later in connection with the description of the locomotive control mechanism, governor H is provided with an interlock switch 31 actuated by arm IS. The 00 arrangement is such that this switch is open when the engine I is not operating and closes when the engine reaches a speed slightly less than idling speed, and remains closed until the engine again slows down to a speed somewhat below idling speed.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, in order to prevent the overloading of engine I, main generator 2 is differentially compound wound, having a main or shunt field winding 38 and a differential series field winding 38. It also has a starting series field winding 40 inasmuch as the generator 2 is operated as a motor to start the engine by current from battery 5.

When the locomotive is being driven by the engine, I the propelllng'motors 4 are connected with main generator 2 by mains 4| and 42 and an electromagnetically operated motor switch 48.

Reversing switches .44 are arranged to reverse.

parallel connections may be used if desired. The

circuits shown in Fig. 1 may be grounded to the structure of the locomotive at 45 if desired.

The speed ot the locomotive is controlled by varying the strength of the shunt field 38 of the main generator which is separately excited from battery 5 through leads 48, 41 and field resistance 48. Electromagnetic switches 49, 58, 5|, 52 and 58 control the amount of resistance in series with the field winding 88 when the generator is supplying power to the traction motors, as will be described in detail below.

The voltage of auxiliary generator 8 is controlled by means of a voltage regulator 54 of the compressible pile type. The carbon pile resistance, 55 of this regulator is connected in series with the shunt field 58 of generator 3 and the operating coil 51 is connected across the terminals of the generator. On account of the fact that the auxiliary generator 8 is used to supply power to charge the battery and operate the auxiliary circuits only when the engine I is operating at full speed, voltage regulator 54 is required to hold constant voltage only over this full speed range, 1. e., the range required for the operation of the engine governor II. This range is from maximum to about eighty or ninety per cent. of maximum speed, depending upon the characteristics of the governor.

Battery 5 is connected through a reverse current relay 58 and lead 58 to electromagnetic switches 88 and SI. Switch 88 serves to connect the battery and the auxiliary circuits with the auxiliary generator 3, and switch 8| serves,-

through conductor 82, to connect the battery and the auxiliary circuits to the main generator 2. Reverse current relay 58 is provided with two operating coils, a voltage coil 83 and a current coil 64. Voltage coil 83 closes the contacts of relay 58 when the voltage of the charging generator rises to the voltage of the battery 5. Hence, voltage coil 83 is connected by the leads shown to main 42 and to both electromagnetic switches 88 and 8|. This coil is therefore connected across the terminals of one of generators 2 or 3, depending upon which of switches 8| or 88 is closed. Current coil 84 is arranged to cause the switch to open whenever current tends to fiow from the battery in a reverse direction through the relay.

Certain of the auxiliary apparatus, namely the lubricating oil pump 1, the control circuits which are indicated generally at 85 in Fig. l, and the locomotive lights 88 are connected directly to the battery 5 through lead 81 and suitable switches as indicated. The remainder of the auxiliary apparatus, that is, the air compressor 88, the motors 88 for operating the cooling blowers for the propelling motors, and the motors 18 for operating the blowers for cooling the engine radiator (not shown) are connected only to the main generator 2 or the auxiliary generator 8, and

this connection is made by means of lead H' which is joined to lead 58 between electromagnetic switches 88-8l and reverse current relay 58. In this way, reverse current relay 58' prevents the auxiliaries just mentioned -from being 5 operated by battery 5. These motors could be operated from battery 5 if desired by merely connecting wire H to wire 81 instead of wire 58.

When the main generator 2 is being operated at idling speed by the engine I and is connected 10 through electromagnetic switch 8| to operate the auxiliaries and charge the battery, its voltage is controlled by a second voltage regulator 12. This is similar to voltage regulator 54 having a carbon pile resistance 13 and an operating coil l4. l5

In order to place voltage regulator 12 in operation an electromagnetic switch "is closed, thereby connecting one terminal of carbon pile resistance I3 directly to battery 5 through leads 4'' and 48. The opposite terminal of resistance 13 is connected through lead 18 to the generator shunt field winding 38. Field switch 49 is, of course, open, cutting the field resistance 48 out of circult.

In Fig. 2 are shown the connections of the circults which control the operation of the apparatus diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 1. All of the various devices in all oi! the figures of the drawings are shown in the position which they would assume with the engine I shut down and the 10- comotive out of service. Current from battery 5 is supplied through a hand switch 11 to master controller I8. The starting and stopping of en-' gine l is controlled by push-button switches I9 and 80. "Engine run switch 18 will remain in either position to which it.,is moved, but engine start switch 80 is spring biased to open position as indicated. The return circuits to battery 5 from the various devices are through a common return lead 8i which is preferably 40 grounded to the structure of the locomotive at 82, or, in case this is not desired, is connected to wire 42, Fig. 1.

Although Fig. 2 shows only a single master controller, the locomotive is preferably arranger. for double-end operation, the second controller having been omitted to simplify the connections. The control system is suitable for multiple-unit operation and the locomotive is therefore provided with a train line 83 and jumpers 84 by means 5 of which similar locomotives may be operated simultaneously by means of any of the master controllers in any of these locomotives. Master controller I8, in order to further simplify the drawings, has been shown as having only five 5 accelerating positions and an off position, in which it is illustrated. Itwill be understood, however, that the exact number of accelerating positions will depend upon the size and weight of the particular locomotive and the amount of power de- 0 veloped by the engine I.

The engine I is provided with an oil pressure operated switch 85 (see Figs. 2 and 3) which is connected by means of pipe 88 to the oil presr sure line 9 from oil pump 8. This pressure responsive device may be of any suitable construction and has been shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2 as consisting of a cylinder within which is a piston 81, the movement of which is resisted by means of a spring. The piston rod 88 is arranged to simultaneously close and open two contacts 89 and 88. The device is calibrated so that these contacts will be closed as long as the oil pressure in the pipe 8 is above a predetermined amount required for the safe lubrication of the engine bearings.

The operation of the propulsion system will now be described, in the course of which the construction of the remaining parts of the apparatus will be set forth as necessary to an understanding of the invention.

It will be assumed that the engine I is cold and is not in operation, also that the controller is shut off and all of the switches and other parts of the various mechanisms are in the positions shown in the drawings. To start engine I the engine run switch 18 is closed by hand, which permits current from the battery 5 to fiow through wires SI and 92 to operate motor I which drives the lubricating oil pump 6. The operation of this pump builds up the lubricating oil pressure which may be indicated by a gauge (not shown) in front of the engineer, and as soon as the pressure rises to a predetermined amount, oil pressure switch 85 will be actuated, closing contacts 88 and 90.

Spring-biased engine start button 80 may then be pushed, thus energizing lead 83, and, since contacts 89 on the oil pressure switch are closed, current flows through wire 84 to energize the operating coil 95 of engine-starting switch 86. This closes the circuit from the battery 5 through lead 46 (Fig. 1), generator starting field 40, the armature of generator 2 and main 42 back to battery 5. Thus, as soon as the lubricating oil pressure has risen to a safe value, generator 2 is operated as a motor from battery 5 to start engine I.

In order to energize the shunt field 38 of generator 2 to make available the maximum possible starting torque for starting the engine, provision is made for closing electromagnetic field switch 15, thus energizing shunt field winding 38 of the generator through the carbon pile resistance I3 of voltage regulator 12. Inasmuch as the carbon pile resistance is fully compressed, there being as yet no voltage on its operating coil I4, substantially maximum field current flows through shunt field 38. The closing of switch 15 is accomplished by means of interlock contacts 81 on generator starting switch 96 which close at the time this switch closes, thus completing a circuit from wire 93 through wire 88 and operating coil 98 of switch I5. The circuit is completed through this coil to return wire 8i through interlock contacts I on auxiliary generator switch 60 which contacts are closed so long as this switch is open.

From the combined effect of the full shunt field 38 and the generator starting field 40, generator 2, operating as a motor, will have suilicient torque to turn the engine over and bring it up to a speed at which it will commence to fire. As soon as this occurs the engine start button 80 may be released by the engineer. This opens starting switch 96 and its interlock contacts 91, thereby opening field switch 15.

The control mechanism by which it is insured that the engine will be operated at idling speed for a predetermined period (say, two minutes) every time it is started will now be described. This period of idling enables a proper flow of lubricating oil to the bearings to be established before the engine can be made to develop full speed or load. Also, mechanism is included which insures that the engine, when it is cold, will be operated for an additional period of time (say, eight minutes) at idling speed so as to allow time for it to warm up to a temperature at which it can be safely operated at full speed and load.

The operating coil of magnet valve Si is not energized. Therefore, oil pressure has been admitted to idling cylinder 28, and engine governor H consequently is set to operate the engine at idling speed. Just before the engine reaches idling speed the interlock switch 31 which is ac tuated by governor II closes its contacts. This closes the circuit through devices which prevent the setting of the governor I I from being changed until after the engine has operated at idling speed for a predetermined time. It also causes main generator 2 to be connected with the auxiliaries and battery 5, as will be described later on, so that the engine will carry a small load, thus causing it to warm up more quickly.

By the closing of interlock switch 31 wires IM and I02 are energized. Current flows through wire I02 to the heating element I03 of a thermostatic time delay relay I04, relay contacts I05, wire I06, contact I01 of an electromagnetic relay I08, and return wire 8| back to battery 5. A second thermostatic time delay relay I08 has its heating element I I0 connected in series with the heating element I03 of delay relay I04, and wire III places both of these heating elements in series with the operating coil I I2 of electromagnetic relay I08.

The construction of the thermostatic time delay relays I04 and I 08 is shown in detail in Fig. 6 of the drawings. These devices each comprise a shell III of insulating material such, for example, as vulcanized fibre, having contact clips H4 and H5 at its ends and a third contact segment I I6 in the side of the shell. The device is adapted to be received and held in position by a base member (not shown) which is similar to the base ordinarily used for receiving fuses of the cartridge type.

The heating element is shown at III, one end of which is connected to terminal clip III, and the other end of which is fixed at II8 to a heat absorbing copper block I IS. The connection at I I8 is such as not only to make good electric contact, but also an effective heat transmitting con tact so that heat developed in heating element II I will be transferred to copper block H9 and thence to a bimetallic thermostatic strip I20 which is also mounted in heat conducting and current conducting relation to copper block I I8. These parts are held in permanent relation to one another by means of a screw I 2I, the head I22 0! which is beneath clip II5 so that access to the interior of shell I I3 cannot be had without mutilating the clip. A connection I23 is provided between copper bl k IIS and terminal clip II5 for the heating curre through heating element I II.

The outer end 0 bimetallic strip I20 is pro-. vided with a contact I24 which moves into and out of electrical conducting relation with the tip of a contact screw I25 in contact segment I I6. when screw I25 has been adjusted during the manufacture of the thermostatic time delay reto lay to obtain proper operation, its head is covered with solder or otherwise made inaccessible so that the adjustment cannot be altered thereafter.

In the operation of this thermostatic time delay relay, the current passes through the heating device I I1 thereof, thence by way of copper block II9 to bimetallic strip I20, leaving the device through contacts I24I25 and contact segment I I6, and causes the gradual heating up of thermostatic strip I 20, thereby ultimately opening contacts I24-425. These contacts will open when a definite and fixed time has elapsed after current through the heating element I I l is established, and in order to obtain a considerable delay in the opening of the contacts. a shield I20, consisting of a strip of asbestos is placed between heating device II! and bimetallic strip I20. This shields the bimetallic strip from the radiant heat given out by heating device Ill and, by varying the width and length of shield I28, the desired time lag is obtained. In this way, each thermostatic time delay relay may be calibrated during manufacture to provide the desired time lag, and this time lag cannot be changed thereafter.

Thus, thermostatic time delay relay I04 may be constructed to open its contacts I05 at the end of a predetermined time (say, two minutes) after interlock switch 01 closes. When contacts I05 open current will commence to heat the heating element IIO of thermostatic time delay relay I 09, flowing through this element and thence through relay contacts I21, and wire I28 to the contacts I29 of a thermostatic switch I30 (Fig. 3) which is arranged to be responsive to the temperature of the oil in engine manifold I0. This thermostatic switch is so designed as to close its contacts whenever the temperature of the oil being delivered to the engine bearings through manifold I falls below a predetermined value, for example, 90 F., and to open them slightly above this value. Hence, if the engine is cold, contacts I29 will be closed and the current will flow through these contacts and contact I0! of electromagnetic relay I08, as before, to the return wire 8|.

This will continue until the endof a predetermined time (say, eight minutes), depending upon the characteristics of time delay relay I09, when the contacts I21 of this relay will open, and operating coil II2 of relay I08, being no longer short-circuited, will be energized. This lifts the relay switch from contact I0I to contact I3I which, as will be presently seen, prepares the circuit of operating coil 34 of governor changing valve 3I so that this valve canrespond to the operation of the master controller I8 to change the governor setting to bring the engine up ,to full speed. This cannot, actually take place, however, until the master controller I8 is moved to the first position.

In this way, the control mechanism insures that engine I be operated at idling speed for a total time of ten minutes when a start is made with the engine cold, this time being measured from the instant when the engine is brought to a speed just below idling speed so that the interlock switch 31 closes. After the opening of thermostatic delay relay I00, relay I08 will be actuated by the opening of either contacts I21 or thermostatic switch I00, so that if the temperature of the engine is below 90 degrees (the'setting of thermostatic switch I00) and, during the eight minute period, warms up to a temperature above 90 degrees, the circuit of operating coil 34 of governor changing valve 0| will be prepared for energization by the movement of the master controller as soon as the thermostatic switch I30 opens. This period oi ten minutes is made up of a period of two minutes which is required for the actuation of thermostatic delay relay I04 and a period of eight minutes which is required for the actuation of delay relay I09.

If, however, the engine is still warm from a previous period of operation, or, in other words, has not been standing idle fora sufiicient length of time for the oil in manifold I0 to cool down below the closing temperature of thermostatic switch I00, the eight-minute period is eliminated.

The two minute protective. period aflorded by '2 to supply current to the auxiliaries and the thermostatic relay I04 is retained however, in any event,so thatit isimpossible aftera shutdown to operate engine I at full speed until after the engine has operated for a period of two minutes at idling speed so as to allow time for a proper flow of lubricating oil to the bearings to be established.

It was mentioned above that at the time interlock switch 31 is closed by the engine governor (just before the engine reaches idling speed), in addition to establishing the circuits just described in detail, it also causes main generator 2 to be connected with the auxiliaries and battery 5. This is accomplished by the flow of current from wire IOI through wire I32, contact I33 of an electromagnetic relay I34, wire I35, interlock contacts I36 on motor switch 43, wire I3Iv to the operating coil I38 of the main generator switch SI, and thence through interlock contacts I00 of auxiliary generator switch 60 to return wire H.

This causes switch 6| to close, thereby connecting generator 2 to the auxiliary circuits, 'as just mentioned. The automatic closing (previously described) of reverse current relay 58 when the voltage of the generator rises to'that of the battery 5 connects the battery to generator 2.

In order that the voltage of main generator 2 may be regulated and held constant so long as the engine is operating at idling speed and this generator is supplying power to the auxiliary circuits and battery, the voltage regulator I2 is connected in circuit, This is done by closing field switch I5 which is effected by means of a branch circuit I39 from interlock contacts I36 on motor switch 43 through interlock contacts I40 on engine starting switch 80, wire I wire 98, through operating coil 98 of field switch I5, and thence through interlock contacts I00 of auxiliary generator switch 60 to return wire 8|. The operating coil 14 of voltage regulator I2 is connected through wire I42 to generator switch 60 and 6| at all times. This causes the voltage regulator operating coil I4 to be energized before field switch I5 closes and permits the regulator to respond more quickly than would be the case if coil 14 were not energized until the field switch I5 closes.

This completes the connections of the various parts of the system to enable the main generator storage battery so long as the engine operates at idling speed.

We will assume that the engine has been operating in this manner for a period of ten minutes during which time the oil flow has had an opportunity to be fully established and all parts of the engine have warmed up to a safe operating temperature. At the end of this time the contacts I2I of thermostatic time delay relay I09 open; When contacts I2I open, this causes the actuation of electromagnetic relay I08 as will have been understood from the previous description, thereby moving the switch element of relay I08 from contact I0I to contact I3I and preparing the circuit for the operating coil 34 of governor changing valve 3I to be operated by the first movement of the locomotive master controller.

As the resistance of operating coil II2 of relay I08 is high, the placing of this coil in series with the heating elements I00 and I I0will reduce the current through these heating elements to an amount which will have practically no heating eflect on these elements, the current through these elements previously having been limited only by the resistance of the elements themselves and by means of a balancing resistance I44 which may be included if necessary. The heating elements I03 and H are now allowed to cool down because of this reduction in current, thereby permitting their contacts I and I21 to close so as to be ready to operate at a subsequent starting of engine I.

If control switch 11 is now closed and master controller 18 is moved to the first position, current will flow through wires I45 and I46 and energize the operating coil I41 0! motor switch 43 and the operating coil I48 of field switch 49. This closes these two switches. Motor switch 43 in closing changes the position of all of its interlock contacts. Hence, interlock contacts I49 close, establishing current fiow from wire IOI through wire I50 to operating coil 34 of governor changing valve 3|, and, electromagnetic relay I08 having been energized as previously described, the circuit from this operating coil is completed through contact I3I and the switch member of relay I08 to return wire 8|. This causes governor changing valve 3I to move downwardly, thereby cutting off the supply of oil to fluid pressure cylinder 28 and changing the setting of governor I I so as to cause it to raise the operating speed of the engine from idling speed to full speed.

The closing of motor switch 43 opens interlock contacts I36 and hence breaks the circuit through wires I35 and I31, thus deenergizing operating coil I38 of main generator switch 6| and causing this switch to open. The opening of these same interlock contacts I36 also breaks the circuit through wires I35, I39, I and 98, thus deenergizing operating coil 99 of field switch 15; The opening of switch 6I disconnects the main generator 2 from the auxiliaries and battery, and the opening of field switch 15 disconnects automatic voltage regulator 12.

The opening of main generator switch 6 I causes the closing of its interlock contacts I5I thereby establishing a circuit from wire I50 through the operating coil I 61 of auxiliary generator switch 60, contacts I3I of relay I08 to return wire 8|. Thus, as soon as main generator switch 6| opens, auxiliary generator switch 60 closes so that the operation of the auxiliaries, air compressor, blowers, etc. and charging of battery 5 is transferred from the main generator 2 to auxiliary generator 3. Reverse current relay 58 will open as soon as switch 6| opens. The battery will be reconnected as soon as the engine has reached full speed and the voltage of auxiliary generator 3 has reached normal, thereby causing reverse current relay 58 to close.

The compressible resistance 55 of voltage regulator 54 and field winding 56 of auxiliary generator 3 are at all times connected across the terminals of this generator. Also, operating coil 51 of this voltage regulator is at all times similarly connected. Hence, there is some current flowing through field winding 56 even when generator 30 is operating at idling speed, and, consequently, as the engine speed rises from idling speed to full speed, the excitation of generator 3 increases promptly and the generator is ready to deliver full voltage under the control oi voltage regulator 54 practically as soon as full speed is reached.

The engine I is now operating at full speed and ready to deliver its maximum power and the locomotive is therefore capable of accelerating its train load at the maximum rate as the controller 18 is notched up from its first position to the fifth position, thereby successively energizing wires I52 to I55, inclusive, and the corresponding operating coils I56 to I59 0! field switches 50 to 53, inclusive. It will be understood that the cutting out of field resistance 48 in steps by means 5 of field switches 50 to 53 increases the current through the shunt field winding 38 of generator 2 and thereby gradually increases the voltage applied to the propelling motors 4 by generator 2.

In order to prevent the engine I from being repeatedly speeded up and slowed down by the throwing of the controller on and 011', very frequently at short intervals, as occurs in switching service, I have arranged the control mechanism in such a way as to remove the control of the engine speed from the master controller 18 as soon as controller 18 has been moved to its first position, and entirely withholding the control of the engine speed from the master controller for a predetermined time (say, for example, five minutes), after the controller has been moved to off position. In this way, the engine I will continue to run at full speed during this predetermined length of time, but at the expiration of that time the engine will be automatically re- I duced to idling speed and the control of the engine governor again returned to the master controller so that the first time thereafter that the master controller is again moved to the first position, the engine will again immediately return to full speed. The control mechanism which aocomplishes this result is as follows:

This mechanism includes electromagnetic relay I34, an extra interlock contact I80 on motor switch 43, and a third thermostatic delay relay I6I together with a balancing resistance I62 for limiting the current through this relay to the proper value. The closing of motor switch 43 which occurs on movement of controller 18 to its first position as above described, caused interlock contacts I49 thereon to establish the fiow of current from wire IOI to wire I50. In addition to energizing operating coil 34 of governor changing valve 3i, this also energized the operating coil oi relay I34, current fiowing from this operating coil through wire I63, contacts I64 of thermostatic delay relay I6I, wire I 68, and contact I3I of relay I08 to return wire 8I. This caused the switch member of relay I34 to move from contact I33 to contact I65, thus establishing a holding circuit for relay I34 so that the relay will remain in this position after the motor switch 43 is again opened as will occur as soon as the master controller 18 is moved to 01$ position.

When the controller is now moved to the of! position, thus opening motor switch 43, interlock contacts I49, which initially energized wire I50 and the operating coil 34 of governor changing valve 3I, open, but wire I50 continues to be energized by the holding circuit just referred to through wire I32 and contact I65 of relay 34. Hence, the operating coil of governor changing valve 3I continues to be energized and therefore the engine remains at full speed.

The opening of motor switch 43 also causes 6 the closing of its interlock contacts I60 which completes a circuit from wire I50 to wire I66, resistance I62, the heating element of thermostatic delay relay I6I to wire I68, and contact I3I of relay I08 to return wire 8I. Thermostatic time delay relay I6I is identical in construction with delay relays I 04 and I09 except for the time setting. Relay I6I is arranged to open its contacts I64 at the end of such time after controller 18 is moved to the oi! position as it is desired to cause first position.

2,021,000 engine I to slow down to idling 'speed. At the end of thattime (say, 5 minutes) contacts I04 will open, thereby breaking the circuit through the operating coil of relay, I34 and causing its switch arm to descend into contact with contact I33. This cuts oiT the supply of current from wires IOI and I32 to wire I50 and hence deenergizes operating coil 34 of governor control valve 3I and the operating coil I61 of auxiliary generator switch 60. The engine I then slows down to idling speed and auxiliary generator- 3 is disconnected from the auxiliary circuits and battery 5. The failure of current supply to wire I50, also, through wire I06 shuts off the current through the heating element of thermostatic delay relay IOI, thereby allowing the relay to cooldown and be ready for a subsequent operation.

The opening of auxiliary generator switch 60 causes its interlock contacts I00 to be closed and the dropping of relay I34 reestablishes current from wire I32 through contact I33 to wire I35 and thence through .interlock contacts I30 and wire I31 to operating coil I38 of main generator switch .IiI; also from contacts I30 to interlock contacts I40, wire I and wire 38 to the operating coil 93 of field switch I5. This reconnects main generator 2 with the auxiliarycircuits and places voltage regulator 12 again in operation to control the voltage of generator 2. opening of contacts I04 of delay relay I6I at the end of the five-minute period has caused all the various parts of the system to be restored to the same operating conditions that existed before the master controller I0 was originally moved to its These conditions will continue until the locomotive is again moved, or engine I is shut down by opening manually operated engine run" switch I3.

With the improved control system of my present invention, it is insured that the internal combustion engine will be operated at idling speed for a predetermined period (say, two minutes) every time it is started, thus enabling the lubricating oil to reach all the bearings under pres sure to provide proper lubrication before the engine is called upon to operate at full speed and load. Furthermore, when the engine is cold, the provision of delay relay I00 and the thermostatic switch I30 insures that the engine must be operated for an additional period of time (say, eight minutes) at idling speed beiore the engine is subjected to full speed or load. This will allow time for the'usual temperature changes to take place within the engine and avoid excessive localized expansion that might take place in some of the engine parts were the engine allowed to operate at lull speed immediately after starting.

It will be understood, however, that while the engine is being operated at idling speed, it is possible to move the locomotive by manipulating the master controller 18 as there is nothing to prevent the closure of motor contactor 43 and field Hence, the

This will be suillcient to auxiliary generator 3 ispreferably arranged to deliver approximately 'volts and the main generator 2 approximately 600 volts. If the idling speed is about one half of the full speed, as is customary practice in Diesel engine design, then 5 the main generator will be capable of giving about one quarter normal voltage with full field at idling speed. This is approximately volts or slightly more than is required for the auxiliaries and for charging the battery so that the volt- 10 age regulator I2 will be enabled to effect excellent voltage regulation.

By means of my present improvements, the full speed operation of the internal combustion en-' gine and generator of a locomotive of this type is made practical independently of the operation of the master controller. This greatly improves the performance of the'locomotive as a whole, enabling it to accelerate faster and thus respond more promptly to the operation of the controller. 20 This enables the locomotive to handle cars in switching service very much more effectively.

The operation of the engine at constant full speed to be compensated for by the inertia of the engine and generator. Along with the advantages of op- 35 erating the engine at substantially constant full speed so long as the locomotive is being used, the possibility of operating the engine at full speed without load for long periods of time when the locomotive is waiting for orders, etc., is eifec- 40 tively avoided.

The above results are obtained, moreover,

through the employment in the control system of devices which are available at moderate cost and which, nevertheless, because of their simplicity 45 of construction, are dependable in operation.

-I claim: 1. A propulsion system for vehicles comprising an electric propelling motor, an engine for supplying power therefor, a generator operated by so the engine, connections between the generator and the propelling motor, control means disposed to control the said connections, said engine being arranged to operate at substantially full speed independently ot the speed 01' the vehicle, and means for reducing the engine speed at the expiration of a predetermined time after the connections between the generator and the propelling motor have been broken by the control means. (:0

2. A propulsion system for vehicles comprising an electric propelling motor, an engine for supplying power therefor, a generator operated by the engine, connections between the generator and thepropelling motor, control means disposed 65 to control the said connections, said engine beingv arranged to operate at substantially full speed independently oi! the speed of the vehicle, means for maintaining the engine at full speed after the connections between the generator, and propelling 70 motor have been broken by the said bontrol means, and means operable at a predetermined time after said connections have been broken for reducing the engine speed.

3. A propulsion system for vehicles compris- 75 ing an electric propelling motor, an engine for supplying power therefor, a generator operated by the engine, connections between the generator and the propelling motor, control means disposed to control the said connections, said engine being arranged to operate at substantially full speed independently of the speed of the vehicle, means for slowing the engine to idling speed at the expiration of a predetermined time after the connections between the generator and the propelling motor have been broken by the control means, and means for causing the engine to return' to substantially full speed immediately upon said connections being reestablished by the control means.

4. A propulsion system for vehicles comprising an electric propelling motor, an engine for supplying power therefor, a generator operated by the engine, connections between the generator and the propelling motor, control means disposed to control the said connections including a plurality of accelerating positions, said engine being arranged to operate at substantially full speed independently of the speed of the vehicle, means for reducing the speed of the engine at the expiration of a predetermined time after the connections between the generator and propelling motor have been broken by the control means, and means for causing the engine to return to substantially full speed as soon as said control means is actuated to the first accelerating position.

5. In a power system an engine, a generator operated by the engine,-an electric motor, connections between the generator and the motor including a switch, a governor for the engine, a device for changing the governor to cause the engine to operate at reduced speed, clect'ro-thermostatic time delay means for causing said device to operate to reduce the engine speed, and means for establishing a circuit through said time delay means when said switch opens.

6. In a power system including an internal combustion engine, means for operating the engine at reduced speed for a predetermined time after the starting of the engine, and means for thereafter operating the engine at full speed.

7. In a power system including an internal combustion engine. means for operating the engine at reduced speed 'for a predetermined time after the starting of the engine, and means operative at the end of said predetermined time for continuing the operation of the engine at reduced speed for a further predetermined time to allow the engine to reach a proper temperature for operation at full speed.

8. In a power system including an internal combustion engine, means for operating the engine at reduced speed for a predetermined time after the starting of the engine so as to allow a proper flow of lubricating oil to the engine bearings to be established and to allow the engine to reach a temperature at which it may safely operate at full speed and load, and means responsive to the temperature of the engine for shortening said time provided the engine is warm.

9. In a power system including an internal combustion engine, means for operating the engine at reduced speed for a predetermined time after the starting of the engine suiiicient to allow a proper flow of lubricating oil to the bearings to be established, mechanism for continuing the operation of the engine at reduced speed for a further predetermined time suflicient to allow the engine to reach a temperature at which it may safely operate at full speed and load, and means responsive to the temperature of the engine for nullifying the action of said mechanism so as to allow the engine to be operated at full speed more quickly after starting when the engine is warm. 5

10. In a power system including an internal combustion engine, means comprising an electrothermostatic time delay device for operating the engine at reduced speed for a predetermined time, and a speed-responsive switch for closing the 10 circuit through said electro-thermostatic time delay device when the engine reaches a predetermined speed.

11. In a power system including an internal combustion engine, means for operating the en- 15 gine at reduced speed for a predetermined time after the engine reaches a predetermined speed, and means operative at the end of said predetermined time for continuing the operation of the engine at reduced speed for a further predeter- 2o mined time to allow the engine to reach a proper temperature for operation at full speed.

12. In a power system, an engine adapted to deliver power to said system, control means for controlling the delivery of power from said engine 26 to said system, a governing device for regulating the speed of said engine, means interconnecting said governing device and said control means by which the operation of the governing device is modified to cause it to increase the speed of the 30 engine from idling speed to full speed, and time delay means for interrupting the operation of said interconnecting means when the engine is started to insure the operation of the engine at reduced speed for a predetermined time before it is oper- 36 ated at full speed.

13. In a power system, an engine adapted to deliver power to said system, control means for controlling the delivery of power from said en gine to said system, a governing device adapted 40 to maintain the engine at substantially constant speed, changing mechanism for changing the speed maintained by the governor from reduced speed to full speed, means for actuating said mechanism by said control means so as to cause said engine to operate at full speed immediately upon the actuation of said control means, and means for interrupting the operation of said actuating means for a predetermined time after the engine is started.

14. In a power system, an engine adapted to deliver power to said system, control means for controlling the delivery of power from said engine to said system, a governing device adapted to maintain the engine at substantially constant speed, changing mechanism for changing the speed maintained by the governor from reduced speed to full speed-means for actuating said mechanism by said control means so as to cause said engine to operate at full speed upon the actuation of said control means, and means for maintaining the operation of said engine at full speed for a predetermined time after said control means has cut oil the delivery of power to said system.

15. A propulsion system for vehicles comprising an electric propelling motor, an engine for supplying power therefor, a generator operated by the engine, connections between the generator and the propelling motor, vehicle control means disposed to control the said connections including a plurality of accelerating positions, an engine speed control mechanism including an operating coil for actuating the same to cause the engine to operate at full speed, the circuit or said operating coil being energized through the moving of said control means to its first accelerating position, devices for completing said circuit including electro-thermostatic time delay means, and a speed-responsive switch for closing the circuit through said means when the engine speed increases to substantially. idling speed whereby at a predetermined time thereafter said circuit through the operating coil of said engine speed control mechanism will be prepared for energization by the vehicle control means.

16. In a power system including an internal combustion engine, time delay means for operating the engine at reduced speed for a predetermined time, and a device responsive to the speed of the engine for initiating the operation of said means.

1'7. In a power system an engine adapted to deliver power to said system, control means for controlling the delivery of power from said engine to said system, a governing device adapted to maintain the engine at substantially constant speed, changing mechanism for changing the speed maintained by the governor from reduced speed to full speed, means for actuating said mechanism by said control means so as to cause said engine to operate at full speed upon the actuation of said control means, time delay means for interrupting the operation of said changing mechanism by said control means to insure the operation of the engine at reduced speed for a predetermined time before it is operated at full speed, and means for maintaining the operation of said engine. at fullspeed for a predetermined time after said control means has cut oil the delivery of power to said system.

18. A propulsion system for vehicles comprising an electric propelling motor, an engine for supplying power therefor, a generator operated by the engine, connections between the generator and the propelling motor, said engine being arranged to operate at substantially full speed independently of the speed of the vehicle, means for slowing the engine to idling speed at the expiration of a predetermined time after the connections between the generator and the propelling motor have been broken, and means for causing the engine to return to substantially full speed.

19. A propulsion system for vehicles comprising an electric propelling motor, an engine for supplying power therefor, a generator operated by the engine, connections between the generator and the propelling motor, control means disposed to control the said connections, said engine being arranged to operate at substantially full speed independently of the speed of the vehicle, means for slowing the engine to idling speed at the expiration of a predetermined time after the connections between the generator and the propelling motor have been broken, and means responsive to the control means for causing the engine 10 to return to substantially full speed.

20. In a power system an engine, a generator operated by the engine, an electric motor, connections between the generator and the motor including a switch, a governor for the engine, a de- 1| vice for changing the governor to cause the engine to operate at reduced speed, time delay means for causing said device to operate to reduce the engine speed, and means for placing said time delay means in operation when said switch .0

opens.

21. In a power system including an internal combustion engine, time delay means for operating the engine at reduced speed for a predetermined time, means for thereafter operating the 35 engine at full speed, and means responsive to the engine temperature for preventing the operation of the engine at full speed until the temperature thereof rises to a predetermined value.

22. In a power system including an internal .0 combustion engine, means for operating said engine at full speed and at reduced speed, and means responsive to the engine temperature for compelling the operation of the engine at reduced speed until the temperature thereof rises to a u predetermined value.

23. In a power system including an internal combustion engine, means for operating said engine at full speed and at reduced speed, and electro-thermostatic time delay means for com- 40 pelling the operation of the engine at reduced speed at the end of a predetermined time after the engine load has been reduced to a predetermined value.

24. In a power system including an internal combustion engine, means comprising an electrothermostatic time delay device for operating the engine at reduced speed for a predetermined time, and means operable upon the starting of said engine for closing the circuit through said electro-thermostatlc. time delay device.

S. H. HAMILTON.

ennriricirr. 0F coRREcTioN.

Patent Nu. 2, 021,005.

November 12, 1935.

WILLIAM S. H. HAMILTON.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, lin 53, begin ing with the word "After" strike out all to and including the word and period "oprns." in line 64, and insert the same-after line 74, of same page and column; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of December, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

